Strings & Sol 2024 Review: A Few of Our Favorite Things From Strings & Sol 

The 12th Strings & Sol took place in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, at Dreams Sapphire Resort, December 12-16, 2024.  Hosts Yonder Mountain String Band and Greensky Bluegrass were joined by returning headliners Leftover Salmon, Infamous Stringdusters and Railroad Earth.  The 2024 Lineup also included Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Kitchen Dwellers, Broke Mountain Bluegrass and Jon Stickley Trio.

There’s a reason Strings & Sol has been around for 12 years, and why Festy GoNuts has managed to attend 7 out of 12.

It is simply the best.

Strings & Sol is one of the original destination music festivals, and hosts Cloud 9 Adventures absolutely set the bar of what a destination fest should look like.

Sure, there are plenty of other options to choose from if a tropical beachfront musical party is your jam.  But there is something truly special about Strings & Sol.

And not to take away from any other beachfront festival.  We’re sure that dancing en la playa with Panic is phenomenal, and The Dead on a beach sounds divine.  But we’re willing to bet that, after the main stage closes, you won’t find Bobby Weir sitting in on a pick with a dozen attendees ’til the sun comes up.  Ever hang with Trey in the breakfast buffet?  Has Brandi Carlile ever served you a tequila body shot off of Shania Twain?

But there’s more to it than the intimacy, and family vibe that everyone, including the artists, embraces.

Possibly it’s the location.  Maybe it’s the staff.  Probably the attendees. Likely all of these together making the perfect combination of paradise.

Regardless the reason, you don’t have to take our word for it.  Simply ask the folks who have attended all 12 of these epic fiestavals. Or someone who only made it there once.  They will all confirm  – Strings & Sol is the best.

From the instant we arrive and are welcomed with a glass of champagne from a smiling staff member saying, “Welcome Home,” there are nothing but amazing moments at Strings & Sol.

Here are merely a few of them…

Cheese Leftovers

This isn’t the first time we’ve bumped elbows with another festival occurring the week before or after Strings & Sol, but with The Mexico Incident wrapping up just as we arrived, this was the perfect blend of music fans. The genres are pretty well intertwined, and the fans certainly overlap, as was evident by the many lucky folks who were able to do both fests back-to-back.

Our Day Zero was the extra day for String Cheese’s attendees, and it was great to connect with friends as we arrived at Dreams.  And the pool floats weren’t the only thing these fans left behind. 😜 

Greensky Pool Party

Every year one of the most highly anticipated moments is the poolside gazebo set with Greensky Bluegrass.  The boys always deliver, typically with some sort of antics, while we all fill the pool with as many floating unicorns, ducks, bananas and dolphins as possible.

This year, as they have in the past, Greensky played an entire set of cover songs.  Not sure what they call it, but we’ll go with Greensky’s Beach Coverup.

Leftover Lodge

New this year was the Club Indigo – a brand new building with swim-out beachfront rooms and a rooftop lounge with a swim-up bar, sushi restaurant, and infinity pool.

Some dubbed the new digs the Leftover Lodge, others the Hobo Hotel.  Maybe the Infamous Inn?  Yonder’s Yurts?  Camp Greensky!

Whatever it was called, it was a welcome addition to the resort, and although some windy days limited the rooftop action, the potential for rooftop shenanigans is great.

Sound Check

Sound checks at Strings are always special.  On the first day of music, we often take our initial steps on the sand, during the Yonder and Greensky soundchecks, connecting with friends for the first time. 

We dance in the surf and enjoy a preview of what is to come – and the bands treat us to a bonus song or two.

Molly Tuttle “She’s a Rainbow”

Molly Tuttle was simply a star of Strings & Sol.  Her main stage set moved everyone there, and her late-night Palapa set brought the house down.  Her band, Golden Highway, is complete fire and had moments to shine throughout the weekend.  But when the band left Molly and her guitar alone on stage for a few songs, every jaw hit the beach.

Jon Stickley Trio

In 2021, we dubbed Jon Stickley the MVP of Strings & Sol.  Aside from his Broke Mountain Bluegrass performance and his many, many sit-ins, he also took over guitar duties for Vince Herman who had to cancel last minute due to a medical emergency.  Stickley learned the entire Leftover Salmon catalog and crushed it.

The Trio hasn’t been to Strings since 2017, and Hunter Deacon joined the band just shortly after that, so this was his first trip.  Lyndsay Pruett was a rockstar in 2017, and her return was highly anticipated.

The Jon Stickley Trio wowed everyone under the Palapa for the first late-night show, setting the high-energy standard for the weekend. 

Later in the fest, Stickley and Pruett hosted an open pick.  Since it was moved indoors due to wind, is was reported as the most authentic bluegrass pick in the history of Strings & Sol. Many an amateur picker gushed at the opportunity to trade licks with Stickley and Pruett.

Mile High, Touch The Sky…

Colorado fam runs deep at Strings & Sol.  Most of the main 5 bands have roots in Colorado, and just about all of them played at least one song paying homage to the real Sunshine State.

Late-nights at The Adult Pool

There’s not much adulting at the Adult Pool, especially when we all gather there after the late-night Palapa sets.

The Adult Pool is where you can usually find your friends and a good jam – sometimes led by attendees, sometimes official artists, and usually a mix of both. (Did anyone catch that sick tiny-harmonica player jamming with Jon Stickley all night?! Or that trio on the Kazoos?!!)

Feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue…

There are always a few completely unexpected moments on stage that blow everyone away.  When the multi-talented Kevin Watson joined Railroad Earth for a killer rendition of Strawberry Letter 23 (by The Brothers Johnson) he turned from “Kevin” to “Cruise Ship Kev” and the crowd went wild.

Please return to me…

Kerosene is always a highlight of any Greensky Bluegrass set, but when the Bruzza tune features Jeremy Garrett and Jason Carter on fiddle, it lights a fire that burns Devol Night Long!

5 Men in a 2 Man Tent

Travis Book referred to the thread that ties us all together at Strings & Sol – Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band.

Comprised of members from three S&S headliners – Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, and Greensky Bluegrass – Broke Mountain is the Mount Rushmore of bluegrass.  Without sleeves.

Travis Book, Andy Thorn, Anders Beck, Jon Stickley and Robin Davis performed jean-to-jean in a late night Palapa set that will go down in history.

There is simply nothing like Broke Mountain.  Except Loaded Canyon.  But that’s a different story.

Death Trip

Kitchen Dwellers closed down the fest with a late-night Palapa set that is likely still reverberating throughout Dreams.

When Kyle Tuttle and Mike Robinson – both former members of Jeff Austin Band – joined for “Death Trip, the whole Yucatan was shaking.

Team Spirit

There’s often a group mentality at Strings – when you travel to Mexico with your besties, it’s common to plan at least one outfit or theme together.  (Who can forget Splash Mob in 2019 and 2021?)

This year, with a “Same Team” unofficial theme on Sunday – there were plenty of group antics.  For our money, Team Kazoozie took the cake.  Especially in the late-night jams.  And also, GO BIRDS!  🦅

30 Strings!

During the first Greensky Bluegrass show, everyone except Dave Bruzza left the stage, and were replaced by Molly Tuttle, Jon Stickley, Andy Falco, and Max Davies for a bluegrass guitar clinic on the Doc Watson classic, “Salt Creek.”

Golden Highway

We’ve already mentioned Molly Tuttle, but her entire band deserves a nod here as well.

Kyle Tuttle was everywhere, with Dominick Leslie joining his poolside set, as well as holding down more than a few late-late-late-night jams,  Bronwyn Keith-Hynes had many memorable sit-ins, alongside her husband, Jason Carter, as the best power couple in Bluegrass.  Shelby Means is such a complete bad-ass, we’re still vibrating from her bass bombs.

Fruta a la Piscina

Always a highlight, during the Greensky poolside set, Strings & Sol hostess-with-the-mostess Annabel delivers fresh fruit via a kayak to everyone dancing and swimming in the pool.

It really does make us all feel like we’re living our best lives!

Sunset Salmon

Always one of the best sets of the weekend, the Sunday Leftover Salmon sunset show was a total heater.

Seriously, we didn’t know we could have that much fun while the sun was still up!

Stand here drowning in the Mexican rain…

Sorry (not sorry) if there are too many Kitchen Dwellers references here, but we just report the facts.

Of all the magical moments at Strings & Sol 2024, perhaps none were more powerful than Seven Devils.

During the jam section of the song, the skies opened up.  There’s nothing like getting dumped on on the beach in Mexico.  (Everyone in attendance for the legendary Greensky rain set many years ago still talks about it.)

As we all danced and smiled soaking it in, we could feel the anticipation building, knowing the chorus that was coming.

It was greasy as hell.

All My Favorite Colors

Yonder Mountain String Band has been with Strings & Sol since the beginning, and while the band has been through many changes over the years, one thing has remained constant – their sets are always full of guests, often incorporating every artist at the festival.

This year we were surprised with a last minute announcement of Tyree Woods (formerly Buffalo Commons) having a Palapa set, so it was expected that the frequent Yonder collaborator would join in, and he sure did – as did Willa Emmitt for an awesome rendition of The Black Pumas’ “All My Favorite Colors.”

It’s a Family Affair…

Strings & Sol has been going on for 12 years, so naturally, some of the artists and attendees have reproduced along the way. Heck, half of these kids were probably conceived in Mexico.

It’s great to see the next generation get involved!  We have it on pretty good authority that Greg Garrison’s son has already declared he is better than dad, and watch out for Captain Apple – that kid is going places!

Positive Legacy

The Positive Legacy Day of Service is a Strings & Sol tradition – a way of giving back to the local community that so graciously hosts us all.

Plus, the Charity Auction, “Name That Tune Bingo” with the Infamous Stringdusters, and guest charity bartending with Dave Johnston, Travis Book, Vince Herman and the Kitchen Dwellers all combined to raise over $31,000!

Mexican Milestones

There always seems to be a slew of birthday celebrations at Strings & Sol, and we’re not just talking about Alwyn.

This year was made even more special, with a beach engagement during a Greensky set (she said “Yes”!) and a fan celebrating her 100th Greensky Show.

Congrats to everyone!  (Happy Birthday, Chuck!)

All Aboard…the SOL TRAIN!

Strings & Sol always nails it with the official theme, but Strings & Sol Train might just be the best yet.  Aside from an excuse for an abundance of train songs, everyone’s outfits were outta sight.

This was especially evident during the costume contest, hosted by Kyle Tuttle and “judged” by Greensky Bluegrass.  Of course, it was evident by the “results” that palms were greased, and a recount has already been ordered.

Strings & Sol Swag

11 years ago we printed stickers for Strings & Sol.  We literally printed them.  On label paper.  At home.  

The DIY sticker game has come a long way in the last decade!  Now, it’s a fun challenge to see how many stickers, koozies, buttons, magnets, bracelets, and kazoos we can come home with. 

This year definitely won in quantity and quality – y’all are creative as heck!

Sol Mates

You are what makes this such a special festival.  Everyone there – from artists to fans – understands how lucky we are to be there.

At one point, when the rain started pouring during Seven Devils, this author turned to his wife and said, “I think we’re doing life right.”

That seems to be the sentiment of all the Sol Mates.  If you were there, you did something right.  And because of that, all the Sol Mates share a bond that is strengthened by love and music.

Thank you all, Sol Mates.

See you next year!